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HISTORY 

OF THE *y >» •<if» 

If I iJ: 

FIGHT AT CONCORD, 



19TH OP iLPTlIL, 1775, 



WITH A PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OF THE MILITARY OPERATIONS 

AND INTERESTING EVENTS OF THAT EVER MEMORABLE 

DAY ; SHOWING THAT THEN AND THERE THE 

FIRST REGULAR AND FORCIBLE RESISTANCE 

WAS MADE TO THE BRITISH SOLDIERY, AND THE FIRST BRITISH 

BLOOD WAS SHED BY ARMED AMERICANS, AND THE 

REVOLUTIOiVARY WAR THUS COMMENCED. 



BY REV. EZRA RIPLEY, D. D., 

WITH OTHER CITIZENS OF CONCORD. 



2d - i^ 

CONCORD : 

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY ALLSN & ATWILL. 

1827. 






s 



DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, iow/r- 

District Clerk's Office. 

Be it remembered, That on the eighteenth day of August, A. D. 
1827, in the fifty-second year of the Independence of the United States 
of America, Jllen ^ Atwill, of the said District, have deposited in this 
office the title of a book, the right whereof they claim as proprietors, in 
the words following, to wit : 

"A History of the Fight at Concord, on the 19th of April, 1775, 
with a Particular Account of the Military Operations and Interesting 
Events of that ever Memorable Day ; showing that then and there the 
First Regular and Forcible Resistance was made to the British Sol- 
diery,and the first British Blood was shed by armed Americans, and the 
Revolutionary VVai thus commenced. By Rev. Ezra Ripley, D. D., 
with other Citizens of Concord." 

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled 
" An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies 
of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such 
Copies, during the times thefein mentioned :" and also to an Act enti- 
tled " An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled. An Act for the En- 
couragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and 
Books to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies during the times 
therein mentioned ; and exiending the Benefits therfeof to the Arts of 
Designing, Engraving and Etching Historical and other Prints." 

JOHN W. DAVIS, 
Clerk of the District of Massachusetts . 



INTRODUCTION. 



It may be thought singular, that, at this late period, a particular 
account of the Fight at Concord, on the memorable 19th of April, 
1775, should now for the first time make its appearance. Some 
apology may be thought due to the public for neglecting so lono- a 
matter of acknowledged importance, which, we apprehend, will be 
manifest in the following statement. 

During nearly half a century, it was, as we supposed, the universal 
belief that the first regular and forcible resistance to the invading 
British soldiers was made at Concord North Bridge ; — that there 
the fire of the British was first returned by the Americans j — that 
there the first British blood was shed ; and of course that there com- 
menced the war that terminated in the Independence of the United 
States. We had no idea that any persons ever would or could seri- 
ously entertain a different opinion. We had supposed that public rec- 
ords, numerous historical sketches, and common consent were suffi- 
cient to perpetuate material facts and prominent characters. When 
therefore, the "History of the Battle of Lexington," appeared in 1825, 
we were surprised. Nothing could have been more unexpected. 
That pamphlet has made impressions on the minds of many, unfavor- 
able, in some respects, as we believe, to the truth, and to some wor- 
thy and patriotic characters. The same causes which originated those 
errors, have given rise to opinions and publications in Great Britain 



IV 

and the United States equally erroneous. A large portion of the peo- 
ple do not possess the means of better information ; and those who do, 
have been unwilling to come forward in a controversy very unpleasant 
and attended with many difficulties. 

A writer, however, over the signature of Middlesex, the last year, 
took up the subject in the Yeoman's Gazette, and pointed out the fal- 
lacy of the statements and claims of that history in respect to the 
returning of the fire of the British. We thought he fairly settled 
the question in favor of Concord. Yet nothing like retraction or con- 
cession, on the part of the citizens of Lexington, has come to our 
knowledge. We therefore feel ourselves obligated, and in a measure 
pledged, to pursue the subject, and to publish the following history. 

In the full belief that some of the statements in the history of Maj. 
Phinney are erroneous and unjust, we deem it expedient, and doing 
justice to ourselves, to our fathers, and to the community, to appeal to 
the public, and to set forth a true history of facts, a faithful and minute 
account of the events of that interesting day, and the conduct of the 
military companies and volunteer citizens assembled on that trying 
occasion. 

W^e feel our obligations to the generations yet to come, to transmit 
to them, as far as possible, a fair and correct statement of facts res- 
pecting those events and transactions, the happy or unhappy conse- 
quences of which will descend to them and their successors. 

While we are desirous of discharging this duty to posterity, we 
cannot but deeply regret, that in an affair of such magnitude and com- 
mon interest, as is the commencement of the American revolutionary 
war, such contradictory opinions and opposite claims should have 
arisen as cannot be reconciled with the truth of facts, and which, if 
permitted to continue unreclified, must render the pages of future his" 
tory doubtful and erroneous. 

Unhappy for us that effectual barriers against errors of this kind 
were not earlier erected. We very much regret that accurate records 
of the events and transactions of the 19th of April, '75, at Concord, 
were not made at the time, and carefully preserved. This might have 



prevented those errors and misrepresentations of which we now com- 
plain. Some minutes indeed were made in after years, — some facts 
were noted, and many are remembered by living witnesses. We believe 
therefore, it is yet in our power to vindicate and establish the truth on 
the subject under consideration. 

We have no objections to the historical account given by Major 
• Phinney of the march of the British troops from Boston to Lexington, 
their outrageous behavior while there, &c. except so far as relates to 
the returning of the fire of the British. This we mean to controvert, 
and to shew by testimony and evidence that cannot be resisted nor 
rationally disputed, that the inhabitants of Lexington, very recently, 
have made an unjust claim upon the public faith ; — that they have 
appropriated to themselves facts and honors to which they had no 
right, and have thereby attempted to wrest from the inhabitants of 
Concord and adjacent towns, the legitimate honors which their brave 
and patriotic iathers achieved and bequeathed to them. 

Situated as we now are, at this late period, were we only concern- 
ed, we might still be silent. But when we consider the importance of 
a just representation of facts in a case of this kind, — the interests of 
our common country in the matter at issue, — the memory and reputa- 
tion of our revered and heroic fathers, we do not feel ourselves at 
liberty to be inactive. The blood of our patriotic fathers, and the 
voice of our beloved country, seem imperiously to demand of us a fair, 
unvarnished statement of facts respecting the fight at Concord. And 
this shall be our endeavor without evasion or false coloring. 

It may be added, that the nations of the earth are interested in the 
American revolution ; and they have a right to know from us the time, 
place, and circumstances of the actual commencement of a war of such 
vast consequences. It is our aim to give them correct information. 

Those who may read the following narrative may be desirous of 
finding in it a general and correct view of the progress of the British 
from the time of their leaving Boston, till they returned to Charles- 
town heights ; and also of the opposing and pursuing Americans. It 
may be desirable also to know some of the previous measures of the 



Tl 

Congress of the then colony of Massachusetts. Such a view we pur- 
pose to give, and in doing this we shall avail ourselves of the history 
of Maj. Phinney, where we find it correct, gratefully acknowledging 
the saving of labor to ourselves, and giving credit for any assistance 
that may thereby be afforded. 



HISTORY. 



It is well known that the arbitrary and oppressive 
acts and measures of the King and Parliament of 
Great Britain, were the causes which led to the 
revolutionary war, and to a final separation between 
the United States and the mother country. There 
are extant so many records and historical accounts of 
this matter, which are accessible to all classes of 
people, that it is deemed unnecessary, in this place, 
to go into any detail of facts and proceedings of that 
period, farther than simply to introduce the main ob- 
jects of this publication. 

We begin, therefore, with some account of the 
Provincial Congress and their proceedings, which 
will shew somewhat the state of public affairs at that 
time, and the measures adopted by the Americans 
and the British immediately preceding the bloody 
conflict on the 19th of April, '75. 

Public affairs wore so alarming an aspect in the 
year 1774^ that before the dissolution of the General 
Court in the spring, a Congress of Delegates from 



the several towns in the province was agreed upon. 
To this Congress, the town of Concord sent three,* 
the county of Middlesex seventy-four, and the rest 
of the State, including what is now the state of 
Maine, two hundred members. The first meeting of 
the Congress took place at Salem, on the 12th of 
Oct. 1774, when they chose the Hon. John Hancock, 
chairman, and Mr. Benjamin Lincoln, clerk 5 and 
immediately adjourned to Concord. On the 15tli 
the Congress was organized by choosing the chair- 
man and clerk, President and Secretary. They held 
their meetings in the church. Two sessions, one at 
9 o'clock, A. M. and the other at 3 o'clock, P. M. 
were held each day. The Rev. Mr. Emerson, then 
minister of Concord, officiated as Chaplain. The 
Session was continued a great part of the time in se- 
cret, till the 29th of the same month. Their pro- 
ceedings were marked with great harmony, vigilance, 
and energy. One of their first acts was, to address the 
governor on the state of their grievances ; but not 
receiving a satisfactory answer, a committee for the 
safety and defence of the province, another to prepare 
a plan for regulating the mihtia, and another to esti- 
mate the munitions of war that were needed by the 
province, were chosen. The militia w^as in part or- 
ganized, and some general officers were appointed. 
Capt. James Barrett, at that time, was promoted to 
Colonel. On the 29th, Congress adjourned to the 
23d of Nov. following. They met again according 

*Col. James Barrett, Mr. Samuel Whitney, and Mr. Ephraim 
Wood, Jr. At the two succeeding Congresses, Col. Barrett only 
was chosen. 



9 

to adjournment, and continued their spirited proceed- 
ings till the 10th of December. 

During this session, after repeated and fruitless 
attempts to promote reconciliation, on fair terms with 
governor Gage, a large quantity of military stores 
and provisions was ordered to be collected and de- 
posited at Concord. 

On the 10th of Dec. the first Provincial Congress 
recommended that a new Congress be chosen, to 
assemble at Cambridge, on the first of Feb. 1775, 
and dissolved. 

The new Congress, which met at Cambridge on 
the 1st. of Feb. was not as numerous as the one pre- 
vious. There were forty from Middlesex, and from 
other counties in proportion. They continued in 
session until the 16th, and on that day adjourned to 
meet at Concord on the 22d of March. 

Congress met at Concord according to adjourn- 
ment, and continued a laborious and important ses- 
sion till the 15th of April, when they adjourned, to 
meet at the same place on the 10th of May, unless 
sooner called together. The Committee of Safety 
chosen at the first Congress, were in session during 
the recess, and it was made the duty of the members 
in Cambridge and vicinity, to call an earher meeting, 
if necessary. In consequence of the events of the 
19th of April, notice was given by the members in 
Cambridge, and a meeting of a few members was 
suddenly called at Concord, on the 22d of April, 
when Richard Devens Esq. of Charlestown was 
2 



10 

chosen chairman, and John Murray, clerk,* and im- 
mediately adjourned to Watertown. At this session 
a committee of nine persons was chosen to take depo- 
sitions respecting the affair at Lexington on the 19th ; 
of which committee were Col. James Barrett of 
Concord, and Dea. Jonas Stone of Lexington, who 
were also members of the Congress. There was also 
another committee appointed to draw up a narrative 
of the whole events of that day. Joseph Warren, 
Esq. occasionally presided in this Congress, the Hon. 
John Hancock having been previously chosen a rep- 
resentative in the Continental Congress at Phila- 
delphia.! 

From the foregoing statements the reason is obvi- 
ous why Concord was selected as a place of deposit 
for the Provincial military stores, and why the ex- 
pedition of the British troops to that place was un- 
dertaken. 

" In the afternoon of the 18th," says the history 
of Major Phinney, " Gen. Gage sent out a number 
of his officers, a part of them through Roxbury, and 
a part over the ferry through Charlestown, to recon- 
noitre and watch the movements of the people, and, 
at a proper time, to seize and detain all persons on 

* We believe this person to be the Rev. John Murray,a Presbyterian 
minister of Ncwburyport, who was sent as a delegate to the Congress. 

t Tlie above Congress, continuing in session but a short time, 
dissolved, and a third and last Congress was chosen, composed princi- 
pally of the members of the second Congress, and met at Watertown 
on the 31st of May. Chose Joseph Warren, Esq. President, and Mr. 
Samuel Freeman, Secretary, and continued the session to the 13th 
July, when they dissolved. A " General Court," chosen according 
to the colony charter, assembled in August. 



11 

the road whom they might suspect of being engaged 
in carrying intelhgence of the intended march of his 
troops to Concord. Solomon Brown of Lexington, 
who had been to market at Boston on the 18th, re- 
turned late in the afternoon, and informed Col. Wm. 
Munroe, then an orderly sergeant of the militia com- 
pany, that he had seen nine British officers, dressed 
in blue great coats, passing leisurely up the road, some- 
times before and sometimes behind him, armed, as he 
had discovered by the occasional blowing aside of 
their great coats. Munroe, suspecting their intention 
was to seize Hancock and Adams, immediately col- 
lected a guard of eight men, well armed and equipped, 
and placed them, with himself at their head, at the 
house of Mr. Clark, which was about a quarter of a 
mile from the main road leading to Concord. The 
Committee of Safety, then in session in the westerly 
part of Cambridge, also sent information to Hancock 
and Adams of the approach of these officers. They 
passed through town early in the evening on the 
road to Concord, After some consultation, it was 
concluded by the persons present, to send three 
of their number, Saunders, Brown, and Loring 
toward Concord, to watch the British officers, and 
endeavor to ascertain and give information of their 
movements. In the borders of Lincoln, the whole 
three were taken prisoners by the British offi- 
cers. During the time they held our men in custody, 
they took two other prisoners, Col. Paul Revere, 
and one Allen, a pedlar," whose hands were crippled 
and distorted. " Shortly after, they released Allen. 
They also attempted to stop a young man, by the 



name of Prescott, belonging to Concord ; but, being 
well mounted, he turned from the road into the fieldj 
and putting spurs to his horse, escaped. Several of 
the officers pursued, but could not overtake him." 

'' At about 10 o'clock in the evening of the 18th, 
a detachment of British troops, consisting of grenadiers 
and light infantry, in all about eight hundred, em- 
barked from Boston in boats, and landed at Lech- 
mere Point in Cambridge, just as the moon rose. To 
prevent discovery, they took a by-path leading to the 
main road, which obliged them to wade through 
marshy places and water to a considerable depth." 

Governor Gage, by posting sentinels, endeavored 
to prevent the carrying intelhgence of the embarkation 
of the troops into the country. But nothing of the 
kind could escape the notice of the vigilant and active 
Gen. Warren and his compatriots. Col. Revere and 
a Mr. Lincoln had been seasonably sent out of Bos- 
ton, to give information to Hancock and Adams, and 
to others, of the movement of the British troops, and 
what might be expected. Revere and Lincoln, one 
through Charlestown, the other through Roxbury, 
met at Lexington. " They both brought written 
communications from Gen. Warren, that a large 
body of the king's troops (supposed to be a brigade 
of twelve or fifteen hundred men) had embarked in 
boats, and gone over to Lechmere point, and it was 
suspected they were ordered to seize and destroy 
the stores belonging to the colony, then deposited at 
Concord. The march of the British troops was si- 
lent and rapid." A httle before 5 o'clock, A. M. 
they arrived at Lexington, near the meeting-house, 



13 

and in sight of the militia there collected. And there, 
for the present, we leave them, and the horrid massa- 
cre they perpetrated, and pass on to the entrance of 
the British into Concord and the scenes that followed. 

Nothing very interesting occurred in the march 
of the British from Lexington to Concord. Intel- 
ligence had been given by Mr. Samuel Prescott, 
who had passed the evening at Lexington, and had 
seen and escaped the British officers on the road, as 
above n.entioned, that the British troops were on the 
way, and supposed to be destined to this place, for 
the purpose of destroying public and military stores ; 
which intelligence was confirmed by others who were 
passing the road, and particularly by Mr. Reuben 
Brown of Concord, who had been sent to Lexington 
on purpose to ascertain the truth of the case. 

About 1 o'clock in the morning of the 19th, the 
bell in Concord was rung, which was to be the signal 
of alarm. The inhabitants of the town hastily col- 
lected, and the minute companies and militia, with 
patriotic ardor, expeditiously formed on the usual pa- 
rade before the meeting-house. Several men now 
living, -who were then in the military companies, 
are of opinion that there were two hundred men* in 
arms that day, belonging to Concord. A consider- 
able number of them were ordered to assist the cit- 
izens who were actively engaged in removmg and 
secreting cannon, military stores, and provisions. The 
cannon were nearly all conveyed to a distance, some 

* We have the names of one hundred volunteer minute men who 
were enrolled that day besides the militia. 



u 

to adjacent towns, and some were buried in the ground, 
and some under heaps of manure. 

The minute company of Lincoln commanded by 
Capt. William Smith and Lieut. Samuel Hoar, long 
since the Hon. Samuel Hoar ; and the militia com- 
pany commanded by Capt. Samuel Farrar, now liv- 
ing, and many years a deacon, assembled on the com- 
mon with those of Concord. With others from that 
town was the late Col. Abijah Pierce, then a Major 
in a regiment in that section of the county. These 
companies of Concord and Lincoln marched down the 
road towards Lexington, till they saw the British 
advancing within two miles of the centre of the town. 
Mr. James Baker, then of Lincoln, a minute man, 
and engaged all day, still lives, and recollects the 
events and transactions narrated. 

One reason for the early assembling of the com- 
panies of Lincoln was, they received the first infor- 
mation of the British by Mr. Prescott, wlio, in es- 
caping the British officers, turned his course through 
Lincoln. It may not be amiss to observe that, in 
every town where minute companies were organized, 
they felt themselves specially obligated to be well 
armed, and to appear on parade as soon as possible, at 
the first notice of danger from the British soldiery ; 
being voluntarily and by recommendation of the gen- 
eral Committee of Safety formed into companies and 
regiments for this purpose. On this accoimt, we 
find these companies with their officers more forward 
and conspicuous than the militia. This was their du- 
ty; and their being in front, where danger was the 



15 

greatest, implies no want of patriotism or zeal in the 
militia officers or companies. 

The officers of the regiment of minute men in and 
about Concord, now remembered, were Col. James 
Barrett, Lieut. Col. Ezekiel Howe of Sudbury, Ma- 
jor John Buttrick and Captains David Brown and 
Charles Miles of Concord, Capt. Isaac Davis and 
Lieuts. J. Hay ward and John Heald of Acton, and 
Adjutant Joseph Hosmer, late the Hon. Joseph Hos- 
mer, who magnified his office by his activity and zeal, 
and animated the spirits of his fellow soldiers by his 
patriotic address. Other officers and private citizens 
of influence, contributed by their exhortations and ex- 
ample, to invigorate and direct the spirits and courage 
of the people. Capt. Nathan Barrett, late Colonel, 
commanded the militia company of Concord, and 
marched next to the minute companies, when the fight 
commenced. Several of this company are now living. 

When the alarm bell was heard, the Rev. Mr. Em- 
erson, the clergyman of the town, turned out with his 
people. He was a zealous patriot, and entered warm- 
ly into the cause of his country. He encouraged the 
people collected, and administered counsel and com- 
fort to the distressed and flying women and children. 
The next year he went chaplain in the northern army, 
and died of sickness on his way home. 

That night was a time of great anxiety and big with 
doubtful and interesting expectations. The novelty 
of the scene, the distress of some, the ardor of others, 
the uncertainty of the events, and the unknown conse- 
quences that must follow, all conspired to render those 
few hours extremely anxious and painful. 



16 

Col. James Barrett had the command of the milita- 
ry companies, and also of the superintendance of all the 
public stores, by the appointment of Congress.* He 
rode from place to place giving directions to soldiers 
and citizens as circumstances required. Great confi- 
dence was reposed in him, both by his fellow citizens 
and the Provincial Congress. 
. The mihtary companies which had marched east- 
ward in sight of the approaching enemy, finding they 
were in number far inferior to the British, returned, 
most of them on the hill north of the road. And when 
they came to the west end by the road leading to the 
north bridge. Col. Barrett addressed them in a firm, 
feeling, and serious manner. He reminded them of 
the danger to which they were exposed, and cautioned 
them not to be careless, or needlessly expose them- 
selves ; but to be cool and firm, and to conduct like 
considerate and judicious men and patriots. He charg- 
ed them not to fire,' unless the British should first fire 
on them. Perceiving that the British had entered the 
village, and were very near them, and that his men were 
too few to make a stand, he ordered them to march 
over the north bridge, and take a position on a hill 
about one mile to the north of the meeting-house, and 
there to wait for accessions to their numbers, and for 
further orders. Nor did they wait in vain. Armed 
men from adjacent towns hastened to this place of gen- 
eral rendezvous. A considerable number of the min- 

* Here let it be noted, that in the numbers of Middlesex published 
last year in the Yeoman's Gazette, there are several errors respecting 
men and circumstances, which are here rectified. More accurate in- 
formation having been obtained. 



17 

ute and militia companies of Bedford were seasonably 
on the ground. The former was commanded by Capt. 
Jonathan Wilson, the latter by Capt. John Moore. 
Capt. Wilson was killed in Lincoln, by the flank 
guard of the enemy. Two of the company of Capt. 
Wilson, who were with him, are now living, viz. 
Captains Christopher Page and David Reed, and 
retain a lively remembrance of the novel and tragical 
scenes of that day. Numbers from Carlisle, Chelms- 
ford, Westford, Littleton, and Acton augmented the 
military force. A company from Westford had just 
entered the bounds of Concord when the fight took 
place. But individuals of that town were present and 
engaged in the battle, among whom was the brave 
Col. Robinson. A company from Sudbury com- 
manded by Capt. Nixon, afterwards a General in the 
continental army, were stopped about half a mile from 
the south bridge,by a messenger, Mr. Stephen Barrett, 
son of the colonel, and informed that the south bridge 
was taken up and guarded by the British, and that 
they must march round to the north bridge. In this 
route they had to pass by Col. Barrett's, where the 
British were then actually destroying public property. 
The company halted near the British, and Lieut. Col. 
Howe, anxious to join his regiment, concealed his 
sword under his coat, and pretending business, obtain- 
ed leave of the British officer commanding that party, 
to pass unmolested. He had gone but a little way, 
when the firing at the bridge was heard, on which he 
turned back, offering a reason for not proceeding, 
and receiving an angry threat from the ofiicer, re- 
3 



18 

Joined tlie Sudbury company,* and pursued the enemy 
in their retreat from Concord. Col. Jonathan Rice 
of Sudbury, now hving, then a heutenant in that 
company, correctly remembers and relates these things. 
A Mr. Plimpton of the same town, now alive, is a 
witness to the same facts. Two companies from 
Stow, commanded by Capts. Hapgood and Whit- 
comb, marched for Concord at 12 o'clock, passed the 
north bridge, and arrived at Cambridge at sunset. 

We now advert to the British troops, who entered the 
centre of the town in two divisions ; one in the main 
road, and the other on the hill north of the road, and 
from which the armed Americans had just retir- 
ed. Their first act of violence was to cut down the 
liberty pole, which afterwards they burnt with the 
carriages of the cannon and other public property. 

Immediately after entering the village, six compa- 
nies, under captains Parsons and Lowrie, v^ere sent 
to the north bridge, and a party to the south bridge 
under Capt. Pole. Their object was, doubtless, to 
prevent the entrance of people into the town, while 
they were carrying on the work of destruction which 
they had hastily commenced. Public stores and im- 
plements of war being deposited at Col. Barrett's, three 
companies commanded by Capt. Parsons, marched 
over the bridge, and on to Col. Barrett's. It is high- 
ly probable they meant to take the colonel and carry 

* In thai company was a Dea. Josiah Haynes, 80 years of age. He 
was urgent to attack the British at the south bridge, to dislodge them, 
and march into the village. This is a specimen of the spirit and feel- 
ings of the people. He pursued with ardor to Lexington, and ther« 
was killed by a musket ball. 



19 

liim a prisoner to Boston ; for he was known by Gov. 
Gage and the royal party to be a pubhc officer and 
an influential character in the cause of liberty. 

After the military companies had taken a stand on 
the hill, as above mentioned, Col. Barrett immediately 
rode home, gave directions to his family, and left them 
without telling them where he was going. Appre- 
hensive that the British would seize him, if they had 
an opportunity, he took a back way, and returned to 
his brethren in arms. By this method he avoided 
meeting the British, and his family could give them 
no account of him. 

The British troops were very expeditious in destroy- 
ing all the public stores they could find. A consid- 
erable quantity of flour was stored in the malt house 
of Mr. Ebenezer Hubbard. They beat oflf the boards 
of one end of the house, rolled down the barrels, 
dashed them in pieces, and scattered the flour in the 
street. At a store house of Capt. Timothy Wheeler, 
there was also a quantity of flour, which was saved 
by the following artifice. By the side of the barrels 
two bags of meal were placed, which were the prop- 
erty of Capt. Wheeler. The British were about to 
break open the store, but Capt. W. readily produced 
the key and opened the door. On being sternly inter- 
rogated, whether that flour was pubhc property, Capt. 
Wheeler, standing by the bags, replied, " Gentlemen, 
I am a miller, and declare to you, that every gill of 
this is mine," at the same instant striking his hand 
on the bags of meal. Upon this they left him in 
quiet possession of the whole quantity of flour. At 
a grist mill near by, a number of barrels were found, 



20 

which tliey threw into the mill-pond ; a part of which 
was saved afterwards, though considerably damaged. 
About this time, the British set fire to the court- 
house, which was near to a number of builings, and 
among them the house of widow Moulton. On see- 
ing the fire, she ran out and remonstrated, and ob- 
tained both a hearing and assistance to bring water and 
extinguish the fire. 

While in the village the British seized and abused 
several persons, aged men, who were not armed. 
Among them was Dea. Thomas Barrett, brother of 
the Col. In his buildings there was a gun factory, 
carried on by his son, Mr. Samuel Barrett, and men 
employed by him. The Deacon was a man noted for 
his piety and goodness, and for his mildness of dispo- 
sition. Not appearing terrified or insulting, he began 
seriously to remonstrate against their violence, and the 
unkind treatment of the mother country against her 
colonies. When they threatened to kill him as a 
rebel, he calmly said, they would do better to save 
themselves that trouble, for he was old and should soon 
die of himself. Upon which they replied, " Well, old 
dada, you may go in peace." 

By the time the British had collected, burnt, and 
otherwise destroyed the carriages of cannon, public 
"stores, the liberty pole, and spiked several cannon 
which they found, and thrown cannon balls into the 
mill-pond, the firing took place at the north bridge, 
which immediately drew their anxious attention to that 
quarter. 

The British troops, which went on to Col. Barrett's, 
found and burnt a number of carriages for cannon, 



21 

and other implements of war. The soldiers were 
hungry and thirsty ; and here, as at other places in 
town, when disbanded, they requested supplies. The 
officers very pohtely offered to pay Mrs. Barrett for 
victuals and drink, but she refused pay, saying, "we 
are comaianded to feed our enemy, if he hunger." 
They assured her of good treatment, but said they 
must search her house and should destroy public stores. 
Mrs. Barrett had concealed the small articles that 
belong to cannon, with musket balls, flints, cutlasses, 
&LC. in casks in the garrett, and had put over them 
a quantity of feathers which prevented discovery. On 
seeing a son of Col. Barrett, the officers demanded 
his name. Being answered, Barrett, they called him 
a rebel, and taking hold of him, said, " you must go 
to Boston with us." Mrs. Barrett spoke and said, 
"he is my son, and not the master of the house." — 
Upon this they released him. Another son was there 
viz. the late James Barrett Esq., but being lame and 
inactive at that time, did not so much attract their at- 
tention. They were about to burn the devoted arti- 
cles, carriages, &,c. so near the barn as to endanger it. 
Observing this, Mrs. Barrett went out to them, and re- 
minded the officers of their promise not to injure private 
property. They promptly ordered the articles to be 
carried into the street, where they were consumed. 

The party of regulars at the north bridge were, for 
a little time, dispersed about ; and some of them went 
into the houses that were near, and procured food and 
drink, which were generally given them from fear, if 
not from kindness. 

In the mean time, the number of armed Americans 



22 

was augmented, and they had marched to the high land 
near the north bridge, at the north west of it. From 
this station, the centre of the town was in fair view, 
and the British at the bridge were before their eyes and 
within gunshot. Here the military companies formed ; 
and when in this position, Capt. Davis of Acton arri- 
ved, and brought on his company ; and passing by the 
other companies, took the right of the whole, which 
placed him nearest to the bridge, and in front, when 
they marched towards the enemy. 

About four hundred and fifty armed men being col- 
lected, the military officers then present, with some 
respectable volunteers and citizens, having confidence 
in the patriotism and courage of the men in arms, and 
trusting in Divine Providence, there held a Council 
of war — a council the most interesting and pregnant 
with events, perhaps, that was ever held. It was not 
indeed precisely according to the rules of a regular ar- 
my 5 — it was a council composed of military officers, 
volunteers and citizens, the proprietors of the soil, the 
substantial yeomanry of the then province. That coun- 
cil, with minds and hearts full of the great occasion of 
assembling, having directly before them a body of Brit- 
ish soldiers, at the bridge, stationed there to oppose 
their entrance into their own village 5 knowing that a 
detachment of regulars had gone over the bridge to 
Col. Barrett's, where public stores were deposited ; 
not having heard that blood was shed at Lexington, 
but only that there had been firing ; seeing the smoke 
rising in the centre of the town, and the proud banners 
of the invading troops of the mother country there wav- 
ing ; the women and children either flying, or in a 



state of terror and anguish not easily described ; feeling 
that it was a case of extremity, a question of hfe or 
death, of freedom or slavery 5 and conscious that the 
halter would follow ineffectual resistance ; in that sol- 
emn and appalling situation, enough to "try men's 
souls 5" that council of sober, intelligent, high minded 
patriots consulted, determined, and resolved to live 
free or die — resolved " to march into the middle of 
the toivn for its defence, or die in the attempt.^ ^* — 
They resolved also, that they would do no violence, un- 
less violently opposed ; that not a gun should be fired 
by an American, unless fired upon by the British. — 
They acted upon principle, and in the fear of God. — 
C apt. Miles, afterwards, said to one of us, that "he 
went to the services of the dny with the same serious- 
ness and acknowledgment of God which he carried to 
church." And we have no doubt, he expressed the 
sentiments and feelings of many who were engaged in 
the bloody scenes of that memorable day. Indeed it 
was a sentiment that pervaded the great body of the 
people. The happy effects and vast consequences of 
their high and noble resolution, are beyond all calcula- 
tion. There the sentiments and feelings of the people 
were brought to a point, — the point of forcible resist- 
ance. Their minds had been long agitated and then* 
feelings insulted. They had marked the oppressive 
measures of Great Britain, and now saw violence and 
destruction actually begun by her troops. Forbear- 
ance was no longer a virtue. The moment had arriv- 
ed — the die must be cast — and they came to a glorious 

* Major Euttrick and Capt. Davis used this expression, as numbers 
testify ;— an expression wijich many thought and acted out. 



decision. To that result we may trace not only the 
American revolution, but the existence and progress 
of civil liberty and national freedom in various parts 
of the world. Where that great council was held, 
the spot, the site of ground, appears to us little less 
than holy, and really consecrated by Heaven to the 
cause of liberty and the rights of man. And, we 
trust, it will never cease to remind succeeding gene- 
rations of what their fathers bravely resolved and 
achieved, and what the Almighty wonderfully per- 
formed for them and their posterity. When the scenes 
of that day, and the situation of the principal actors 
are distinctly recollected, we admire and venerate the 
character and conduct of those patriots, and we de- 
light to honor and perpetuate their memory. 

It is impossible, at this period, to do impartial jus- 
tice to all the officers, soldiers, and citizens at that 
time assembled.' The officers were of course the 
most known and conspicuous, and their names are 
transmitted to posterity with honor. But there were 
subalterns, privates, and volunteer citizens, whose 
patriotism and bravery, on that day of deep interest 
and high consideration, covered them with honor, and 
merit the unceasing gratitude of their country. 

It may gratify the reader to know the geography 
of the field of action before we describe the action 
itself. From the station of the armed Americans on 
the high land, the direction of the road was south- 
wardly till it met the road leading over the bridge. 
At this point, on the left bank of the river, the road 
to the bridge turned northeasterly, so that the point, 
or angle of the roads, the bridge and the high land 



25 
^' 
form aA angle of nearly equal sides. The course of 
the river through tlie town is serpentine. A few rods 
above the bridge, the river turns to the north, and 
soon again to the east, about one hundred rods below 
the bridge. 

The Americans being ready and determined to 
move on towards the bridge, orders were renewed by 
the officers not to fire nor give any needless provoca- 
tion, unless fired upon by the British ; to which all 
assented. Col. Barrett* then gave orders to march, 
and directed Maj. John Buttrick to take the com- 
mand and to lead the companies. He was accompan- 
ied by the heroic Col. Robinson, who was a volunteer 
and belonged to a regiment of which the gallant 
Prescott of Pepperell was first colonel. Capt. Da- 
vis followed them with his company, then Capt. 

*The following is the deposition of Col. Barrettj given before the 
Committee of the Provincial Congress : — 

Lexington, April 23, 1775. 

" I, James Barrett of Concord, Colonel of a regiment of militia in 
the county of Middlesex, do testify and say, that on Wednesday morn- 
ing last, about day-break, I was informed of the approach of a number 
of the regular troops to the town of Concord, where were some mag- 
azines belonging to the province, and where there was assembled some 
of the militia of that and the neighboring towns, when I ordered them 
to march to the north bridge and pass the same, but not to fire on the 
king's troops unless they were fired upon. We advanced near said 
bridge, when the said troops fired upon our militia and killed two men 
upon the spot, and wounded several others, which was the first firing 
of guns in the town of Concord. My detachment then returned the 
fire, which killed and wounded several of tlie king's troops. 

JAMES BARRETT." 

Sworn to before WILLIAM REED, > 

JOHN H ASTINGS, V Justices of the Peace." 
DUNCAN INGRAM, ) 

Col. Barrett died suddenly April 11, 1779, aged 69. 

4 



26 

David Brown, and Capt. Charles Miles with their 
companies. Capt. Nathan Barrett next followed 
with his militia company. The captains from Lin- 
coln and Bedford above named, fell in under the 
direction of Col. Barrett, who continued on horse- 
back, in the rear, giving directions to the armed men 
collecting and momently increasing in number. The 
precise position of every officer and company, and 
))arts of companies, cannot now be perfectly known. 
The forward companies became more noticeable. 

It may not be amiss to remark, that the situation 
of Maj. Buttrick, as it was more dangerous and im- 
portant, has gained him distinguished celebrity and 
honor. But this ought never to operate as an eclipse 
upon any other officer on that occasion. There is 
satisfactory evidence, that on the march to meet the 
enemy, Maj. Buttrick requested Col. Robinson to 
act as his superior, he being an older man, and of 
higher rank in another regiment. But he modestly 
declined, and consented to march at the right hand 
and be considered a volunteer. The late Col. John '■ 
Buttrick, then a fifer, repeatedly affirmed that he was 
present and heard the conversation between his father 
and Col. Robinson. This is here particularly men- 
tioned, because there have been entertained erroneous 
opinions on the subject. 

The Americans commenced their march in double 
file. The British observing their motions, hastily 
formed on the east side of the river. When the 
Americans passed the angle near the river, the Brit- 
ish began to take up the planks of the bridge ; against 
which Maj. Buttrick remonstrated in an elevated 



27 

voice, and ordered a quicker step of his soldiers. On 
this the British desisted from injury to the bridge, 
convinced, no doubt, that the Americans were deter- 
mined and able to pass the bridge. At that moment 
two or three guns, in quick succession, w^ere fired into 
the river on the right of the Americans, who considered 
them as alarm guns, and not aimed at them. In a 
minute or two, the Americans being in quick motion, 
and within ten or fifteen rods of the bridge, a single 
gun was fired by a British soldier, which marked its 
way, passing under Col. Robinson's arm, slightly 
wounding the side of Luther Blanchard, a fifer in 
the Acton company. This gun was instantly follow- 
ed by a volley, which killed Capt. Davis* and Mr. 
Hosmer, both of the same company. On seeing this, 
as quickly as possible, Maj. Buttrick leaped from 
the ground, and partly turning to his men, exclaimed, 
^' Fire^ fellow-soldiers, for God? s sake fire. "^^ Mr. 
Tilly Buttrick, a respectable man now living, stood near 
the Major, and is positive that he distinctly heard the 
words and saw the motions of the speaker. He was 
in front of Capt. Brown's company. No sooner 
were the words uttered, than the word fire ran like 
electricity through the whole line of the Americans, 
extending to the high land from whence they had 
marched 5 and for a few seconds, the word fire, fire, 
was heard from hundreds of mouths. The order of 
Maj. Buttrick was instantly obeyed. Two of the 
British were killed and several wounded. The firing 

* Capt. Davis was 30 years old, and left a wife and five children. 
His widow has since been twice married, and now lives a widow in 
Acton ! 



2S 

on each side lasted but a minute or two. The Brit- 
ish immediately retreated. When the Americans 
had fired, most of the forward companies leaped over 
a wall on their left, and fired from behind it. Mil- 
itary order and regularity of proceeding were soon 
after broken up. A part of the Americans rushed 
over the bridge, and pursued the British till they saw 
a large reinforcement advancing, when they turned to 
the left, and ascended a hill east of the main road 5 
and a part returned to the high ground, conveying 
and taking care of the dead. 

While the Americans were retiring and scattered 
on the heights, the Britisli troops which had gone 
to Col. Barrett's, returned unmolested and joined 
their main body. When they saw two of their fel- 
low soldiers dead, near the bridge, they appeared to 
be very much alarmed, and ran with great speed. 
It was a sight evidently unexpected to them, and 
led them to anticipate the danger and blood-shed that 
followed. Their conduct was observed by the Rev. 
Mr. Emerson and his family, who had witnessed the 
whole tragical scene from the windows of his house 
near the battle ground. 

A few minutes after the fight at the bridge, a 
guard of British troops, stationed near the place 
where they first entered the village, saw a man riding 
briskly towards them, whom they sharply eyed. This 
man was Mr. Abel Prescott who had been to give 
intelligence to the inhabitants of Sudbury, and was 
returning to his father's, the late Doct. Abel Pres- 
cott. Perceiving that he was watched, and that by 
pressing forward he should be likely to fall into their 



29 

hands, he turned his horse about, on which they 
fired upon him, and wounded him in one arm. He 
rode directly to the house of Mrs. Heywood, who 
with her son-in-law, now the Hon. Abiel Heywood, 
and Uving witness of this affair, quickly attended to 
his wound. But observing the British advancing to 
the house, Mrs. Heywood, an aged lady, and her son- 
in-law left it, and sought a place of greater safety. — 
Mr. Prescott ran up stairs and concealed himself in 
a dark place, behind the chimney and a dry cask. He 
heard them searching for him and uttering bitter 
threats, but they did not find him. 

While this party of the enemy were at this house, 
they observed a number of Americans running across 
lots towards a barn. At these men several guns were 
fired, but without effect. 

Some persons, it is quite possible, may judge these 
things too trivial to be here recorded. But it appears 
to us that scarcely any event or circumstance relating 
to the conduct of the British or Americans, on that 
day, can be viewed uninteresting. We wish to place 
the scenes of the day before the present and future 
generations precisely as they existed. 

After the fight the British hastily collected their 
scattered parties, and commenced their retreat nearly 
•?t 12 o'clock. They took a horse and chaise and 
some blankets from Mr. Reuben Brown, to convey, 
as is beheved, a wounded officer, Lieut. Potter. The 
horse and chaise were left at West Cambridge, where 
the officer was left a prisoner, and received kind at- 
tentions from a number of American gentlemen. 

The bloody conflict at the bridge being over, and 



30 

the Americans fatigued and hungry, having had no 
regular, if any breakfast, many of them improved 
this interval to take refreshment. Mr. Thaxter went 
to the house of the Rev. Mr. Emerson. The for- 
mer gentleman was then a candidate for the ministry, 
and late the reverend and venerable pastor of a church 
at Edgarton, Martha's Vineyard. He was then 
preaching at Westford, and accompanied Col. Rob- 
inson that morning, and was an eye witness of the 
fight, and of the retreat and pursuit. He was an 
ardent patriot, and he lived to realize the happy 
fruits of patriotic zeal and love of hberty. 

After a little respite. Col. Barrett and others rallied 
and encouraged their armed brethren to pursue their 
retreating enemy.* Being recovered from the shock 
at first occasioned by the novel and bloody scene, 
they engaged in this service with ardor and spirits 
heightened by the 'violence and bloody action they 
had witnessed. Most of the armed Americans took 
a nearer route across the fields, and overtook the 
enemy as they passed the road from Bedford. There 
they met a body of minute men, commanded by Maj. 
John Brooks, late governor, whose Col. was the late 
Gen. Ebenezer Bridge of Chelmsford, and who had 
previously joined the pursuing Americans. Col. 
William Thompson of Billerica, with a body of mi- 
litia from that town and vicinity, came up to the con- 
test on the Bedford road, a few minutes after Maj. 

* The two British soldiers killed at the bridge were buried near the 
spot where tliey fell, both in one grave. Two rough stones mark the 
spot were they were laid. Their names were unknown. Several 
others were buried in the middle of the town, /i w //^ ^ M At t//^ 

y f / 



31 

Brooks, and was brave and efficient in pursuit. About 
this period and place, the company from East Sudbu- 
ry and individuals in that quarter, came up to the 
attack on the south side of the road. A little below 
the Bedford road, on Merriam's corner, so called, there 
was a sharp action, and several of the British were 
killed. The enemy faced about and made a stand, 
but soon resumed their march of retreat. The late 
Rev. Edmund Foster of Littleton was a volunteer 
from Reading, and accompanied Maj. Brooks, and 
was personally and warmly engaged in the conflicts 
of the afternoon. His narrative is interesting, and 
the principal part of it is in the following pages. 

After the action above mentioned, little more was 
done by fighting, until the enemy had reached the high 
land in Lincoln. At that place there was a large bend 
in the road towards the north, and a grove of great 
trees on the west, and high bushes on the east, and 
stone walls in every direction. The Americans had 
run singly across the meadows and concealed them- 
selves behind the walls and trees. On the east side of 
the road there were many in ambush. In this situa- 
tion the Americans poured a deadly fire upon the Brit- 
'ish. Near the close of this action, and a little farther 
on, Capt. Wilson and a number with him, w^ho had 
taken a stand behind a barn, were killed by the flank 
guard of the enemy. From this time, there was a gen- 
eral though not entire cessation of firing, until the ene- 
my had entered the bounds of Lexington, when Capt. 
Parker's company attacked the British from the woods 
on the south of the road. When the enemy were rising 
Fiske's hill in the west part of Lexington, they w^ere 



32 

veEj'iiardiy pressed, the Americans having run forward 
and placed themselves advantageously behind trees and 
fences. The British faced about, and a very spirited 
and bloody contest ensued. Here Maj. Pitcairn was 
wounded and unhorsed : his horse, pistols, &,c. were 
taken.* At this place, a considerable number were 
killed and wounded on both sides, but chielly on the 
side of the British. They were more exposed and more 
compact; and it is wonderful that a greater number 
were not killed and wounded. Here we adduce the 
account of the Rev. Mr. Foster, who was present at 
the place, and personally engaged. This will confirm 
the preceding narrative, and substantiate facts in the 
further retreat of the enemy. In a letter to Col. Dan- 
iel Shattuck of Concord, dated, Littleton March 10th 
1825, he wrote as follows : 

" On the morning of the 19th of April, 1775, just 
at sunrise, Alarm .Guns were fired, which were quick- 
ly followed by a Post bringing news, that the Regulars 
as they expressed it, had gone to Concord. I ran di- 
rectly to Maj. Brooks, late governor — asked if he 
were going to Concord, and ivhen. Immediately, was 
the answer. I borrowed accoutrements, and we set 
off together for Concord. The militia company of 
Reading marched on at the same time, under the com- 
mand of Capt. Bachelder. We rendezvoused near the 
middle of the town of Bedford ; left horses, and march- 
.ed forward in pursuit of the enemy. A little before we 
came to Merriam's hill, we discovered the enemy's 

* The horse was taken to Concord and sold at Auction. Cajit. Na- 
than Barrett bought the pistols, and afterwards offered them to Gen. 
Washington, but he not acceptuig them, they were given to Gen. Put- 



33 

flank guard, of about SO or 100 men, who, on tiic'r re- 
treat from Concord, kept that height of land, the mam 
body in the road. The British troops and the Ameri- 
cans,* at that time, were equally distant from Merri- 
am's corner. About twenty rods short of that place, 
the Americans made a halt. The British marched 
down the hill with very slow, but steady step, without 
music, or a word being spoken that could be heard. 
Silence reigned on both sides. As soon as the Brit- 
ish had gained the main road,t and passed a small 
bridge near that corner, they faced about suddenly, 
and fired a volley of musketry upon us. They over- 
shot 5 and no one, to my knowledge, was injured by 
the fire. The fire was immediately returned by the 
Americans, and two British soldiers fell dead at a 
little distance from each other, in the road near the 
brook. The battle now began, and was carried on with 
little or no mihtary discipline and order, on the part 
of the Americans, during the remainder of that day. • 
Each one sought his own place and opportunity to 
attack and annoy the enemy from behind trees, rocks, 
fences, and buildings, as seemed most convenient. 

''The enemy retreated and were followed. We 
saw a wood at a distance, which appeared to lie on 
or near the road the enemy must pass. Many leaped 
over the wall and made for that wood. We arrived 
just in time to meet the enemy. There was then, on 
the opposite side of the road, a young growth of wood 

* Here he must mean those Americans with Maj. Brooks, and 
perhaps, Col. Thompson. Those in the fight had scarcely arrived, and 
were west of the enemy. 

t When the large flank guard !iad joined the main body in the road. 

K 



34 

well filled with Americans. The enemy was now 
completely between two fires, renewed and briskly 
kept up. They ordered out a flank guard on the 
left to dislodge the Americans from their posts behind 
large trees : but they only became a better mark to 
be shot at. A short but sharp contest ensued, at 
which the enemy received more deadly injury, than 
at any one place from Concord to Charlestown. 
Eight or more of their number were killed on the 
spot, and no doubt, many wounded.* 

" The enemy soon retreated under a scattering fire, 
in which one of their musicians fell. About mid-way 
of the plain in Lincoln, they left in the road one of 
their soldiers badly wounded. When we had advanc- 
ed near to Benjamin's tavern, a man rode up on 
horse back, but unarmed. The enemy were then 
passing round the hill just below the tavern. They 
had posted a small body of then* troops on the north 
side of the hill, which fired upon us. The horse and 
his rider fell instantly to the ground ; the horse died 
immediately, but the man received no injury. We 
were quickly at the spot, from which we returned the 
fire. The enemy were then rising and passing over 
Fiske's hill. An officer, mounted on an elegant 
horse, and with a drawn sword in his hand, was rid- 
ing backwards and forwards, commanding and urging 
on the British troops. A number of Americans be- 
hind a pile of rails, raised their guns and fired with 
deadly effect. The officer fell, and the horse took 

" This actionHook place on the old road north of the school-house 
below Patch's tavern. Eight of these British soldiers were buried ia 
Lincoln burying ground. 



35 

fright, leaped the wall, and ran directly towards those 
who had killed his rider.* The enemy discharged 
their musketry in that direction, but their fire took 
no effect. 

'' At the next house, a British soldier and an Amer- 
ican met each other suddenly face to face. Both 
presented their guns and fired at the same instant. 
The fire of both took a deadly effect.f In some old 
buildings beyond Thaddeus Reed's, two or three 
wounded British soldiers were lodged. The fire on 
the enemy now came from all directions. At the 
bottom of the next hill, and near the Lexington alms- 
house, a British soldier was wounded." By Mr. 
Foster's account, he saved the life of this soldier, 
and humanely assisted in conveying him and two 
other Britons badly wounded, to Buckman's, now 
Merriam's tavern, where proper care was taken of 
them. " Now lord Percy came up with a reinforce- 
ment of one thousand men and two pieces of artillery, 
united with the troops from Concord, and took post 
on the high grounds a little distant from Col. Mun- 
roe's. Here for a while was a cessation of arms, 
excepting that the British occasionally fired their 
field pieces on us." The Rev. gentleman goes on 
to mention a number of facts too well known to need 
repeating ; such as the burning of several buildings 
by the British — the Americans taking refreshment — 

* We suppose Maj. Pitcairn was the ofi&cer, who was only wounded, 
having his arm broken. 

t The American was Mr. Hayward of Acton. The Britain had 
been plundering, and had just left the house as Hayward came upon 
him. 



36 

the manner in which they were supphed by the citi- 
zens in the several towns who did not bear arms — the 
passing of a cannon ball through the Lexington church 
— the beating to arms again — the renewal of the re- 
treat of the British, and of the pursuit of the 
Americans, &c. He relates a feat of his, with 
two others, very mucli to his credit in taking a pris- 
oner, who was shot through the body, but recovered. 
He continues : " this transaction put me so far in 
the rear, that though I pursued, I did not come up 
with the main body. After the British forces left 
Lexington, they were met and mostly opposed by 
men from the lower towns, and some from the county 
of Essex. The company from Danvers, unacquaint- 
ed with military movements, was caught, somewhere 
in West Cambridge, between the flank guard and the 
main body of the enemy, and lost eight of their num- 
ber, and several more were severely wounded. This 
transaction I did not witness, but was correctly inform- 
ed of it. At Snows', now Davenport's tavern in 
Cambridge, one of the enemy lay dead by the road, 
and directly opposite, one of our best men, Maj. Gard- 
ner of Brookline, was killed, and his death much la- 
mented. 

" Being now sufficiently weary, I took shelter, (not 
lodgings, for the furniture was all carried off) in 
Snow's tavern for the night. 

''Though almost half a century has elapsed 
since these events took place, yet my memory has 
been refreshed with them as often as I have passed 
by the places where the deeds were done, and there- 
fore have now as perfect a knowledge of them as 
though they had been the works of yesterday. 



37 

" With the most ardent wishes for the prosperity 
of the American Independence, which I have lived 
to see estabhshed, and for many years have partici- 
pated in 5 and with personal respect for yourself, 
I subscribe, your friend and fellow-citizen, 

EDMUND FOSTER." 

None of the inhabitants of Concord were killed 
in the pursuit of the enemy, and very few were 
wounded. Capt. C. Miles was injured in one hand 
by a musket ball, and Capt. Nathan Barrett slightly 
wounded. 

To substantiate the many facts and circumstances 
brought to view in this narrative, we might adduce - 
many living witnesses* ^it we deem it unnecessary^ V 
^% might also avail ourselves of this publication, 
to take a conspicuous stand in respect to patriotic 
spirit, services, and sacrifices 5 and we doubt not our 
records would justify our pretensions. But this might 
appear ostentatious in the view of many persons, and 
like seeking pre-eminence among equals. All the 
towns in the county deserved well of their country, 
and exhibited their patriotism as occasion required. 
Some old people believe that more hardships were 
endured, more losses sustained, and more sacrifices 
made in the revolutionary war, than the present and 
succeeding generations will ever fully know and ap- 
preciate. 

But it is time to return to the distressing scene of 
blood and massacre at Lexington, on the morning of 
that day, the events of which we have been narrating. 
The circumstances of that horrid scene will be fully 
exhibited by numerous testimonies, while we shall 



^ 



38 

show that the firing of the British troops on the mili- 
tia company of Lexington was not, that morning, 
returned by said company 5 which is one object of this 
pubhcation. 

We have no hesitation in expressing our full belief, 
that the inhabitants of Lexington, on that morning of 
alarm and novel excitement, conducted as honorably 
and bravely as any people would in like circumstances. 
They enjoyed one singular advantage in a time so 
trying, viz. the inspiring presence of two of the most 
distinguished leaders and politicians of that period, 
the Hon. John Hancock and Samuel Adams. The 
militia company under Capt. Parker were" prompt, 
•i •j^atriotic, and courageou%/to admiration. That a 
single company should parade, in an opposing attituoe, 
directly in the face of nearly one thousand of the 
picked troops of Great Britain, places their courage 
and firmness beyond all controversy. Some may 
think they were not so wise in council, as fearless in 
danger — not so prudent in action, as zealous in patri- 
otism. But while we cheerfully give them the highest 
praise for their courage and love of country and liberty, 
we deny that they returned the fire of the British 
at the time. We think it quite possible that the 
firing on the British in their retreat from Concord, 
and in the afternoon, in which the Lexington compa- 
ny were active, may have been blended, in the minds 
of some, with the scenes of the morning. This meth- 
od and time of returning the fire of the British 
has been so often narrated, perhaps, without needful 
distinctions, that the present inhabitants may have 
connected the two periods, and even been wrought 



39 

into the belief that the British fire was actually re- 
turned behind the church in the morning. 

We will grant that after the British had formed at 
the western extremity of the parade ground, and actu- 
ally taken up their march towards Concord, a man, 
behind the tavern of Mr. Buckman, did actually dis- 
charge his gun towards the British. But this was at 
such a distance as to have no effect, nor even to be 
heard by the enemy. We will grant further that 
'^ some very few''^ of the militia, being in a state of 
high excitement and confusion, after the British had 
gone on their ivay^ did fire off their guns from behind 
the wall, in the places of their concealment. But in 
our opinion this is nothing to the purpose, and does 
not affect the question at issue, though it gives op- 
portunity for perplexing it. In this way we account 
for the testimonies, on oath, of a number of the inhab- 
itants of Lexington, to a fact which, we believe, never 
existed. The reasons of our unbelief shall be assigned. 
To this confused and undefined state of things, we 
may trace the reports and publications in England and 
elsewhere, that the militia company of Lexington 
fired upon the British, on the parade, in the morning. 
Considering the disposition of the British, and of the 
tories at that time, it is not wonderful that such re- 
ports should have been circulated, and every advant- 
age seized upon to criminate the Americans. It is 
well known that Gen. Gage published an official ac- 
count of the action soon after it occurred. In this 
account he speaks of the Americans as the aggressors, 
— as returning the fire, &,c. It was soon after pub- 
lished in England, and English historians have receiv- 



40 

ed his statements as correct. Many American writers 
have been mere copyists of the Eaghsb, and are equal- 
ly erroneous. No one in this vicinity, not even the 
most strenuous advocate for the " battle of Lexing- 
ton," beheves his official account, or those taken from 
it, to be true.* 

As to the blood said to have been seen in the 
street, and adduced as evidence that a Briton was 
wounded by the fire of an American ; if blood were 
really seen, it is highly probable it was the blood of 
the dead and wounded of Capt. Parker's company, 
who were carried over that spot of ground into the 
meeting-house or tavern immediately after the British 
troops had marched toAvards Concord.f 

But what trifles these are compared with the great 
question m dispute ! Let us, however, suppose that 
Capt. Parker had ordered his company to return the 
British fire, and they had obeyed. Such a fire from 
nearly forty men, into a compact body of at least eight 
hundred, must have had great and fatal effect. Hap- 
py for Lexington they did not attempt such an unequal 
combat. Had the British officers supposed that guns 
were fired at them, there can scarcely be a doubt, the 
whole village would have been laid in ashes, and many 
of the inhabitants put to death. At that time they 
were haughty and self confident, and did not suppose 

* Gov. Gage seems not to believe this official account himself, for 
he subsequently transmitted a circumstantial account of the afifair to 
Gov. Trumbull, in which it is said "there was no firing of the provin- 
cials till they had jumped over the wall." Notwithstanding it was the 
intention of the British to prove there was firing on the part of the 
Americans. — Historical Collections. 

t Sc6 Wood's deposition in the sequel. 



41 

the Americans would really fight, as they soon witness- 
ed to their cost and confusion. 

We now proceed to adduce the reasons above prom- 
ised. 

The present pretensions and claims of the citizens 
of Lexington, respecting the returning of the fire of 
the British troops, on the morning of the 19th of 
April, '75, were never made nor heard o/*, until about 
forty-eight years after the events took place. Noth- 
ing of the kind was thought of, till very lately, by any 
persons in the neighbouring towns, who have lived in 
the vicinity of Lexington ever since the 19th of April, 
'75, and have heard the story often related by persons 
best acquainted with the facts. Several men have in- 
deed had the impression that there was some firing by 
the Lexington militia ; but this impression was evi- 
dently made by the facts above related, through the me- 
dium of English writers. Not a word or suggestion 
was heard of the returning of the fire of the British 
troops by the militia. It is therefore incredible that 
it was a fact. 

This argument agamst the claims of Lexington ap- 
pears to us invincible ; and it is confirmed by the neg- 
ative testimony of the Rev. Messrs. Clark, Cooke, 
Cushing, Woodward, Morrill, Cummings, and Adams, 
in their anniversary sermons, preached at Lexington on 
the occasion. They speak on the subject with high 
feeling and interest, but do not intimate that the mili- 
tia returned the fire.* It does not appear to us possi- 

* The Rev. Mr. Clark has said something in his Narrative, that ap- 
pears to militate with this assertion, which will be noticed in the se- 
quel. We would that every thing should have its proper weight. 

6 



42 

ble, that such uniform and entire silence could have 
been held, had they known or even believed it to be a 
fact, that the militia company did return the fire of the 
British on the spot v^^here the massacre was perpetra- 
ted. And they must have known it, had it been a truth* 

The oaths of Capt. Parker and others before the 
Provincial Congress, a few days after the event, con- 
tain the same negative testimony. They testify, that 
they did not first fire upon the British. But why 
not testify that they did return the British fire, as well 
as testify that they did not fire first, if both were true 1 
We are aware of the manner in which they are excus- 
ed for not saying more, when under oath, on the sup- 
position they knew more, as now it is pretended. 

It is well known that the British officers endeavor- 
ed to apologize for their violent conduct by affirming 
that the Americans first fired upon them. To decide 
the question, Capt Parker and others were called be- 
fore the Provincial Congress, and there made oath that 
they did not fire upon the British troops before the 
British fired upon them. And they then knew perfect- 
ly well, whether they returned the fire. Was it dan- 
gerous, dishonorable, and criminal then to resist unto 
blood ? And did this character attach to such conduct, 
till the war was ended, and for nearly half a century 1 
But the inhabitants of Lexington were willing the min- 
ute men and militia of Concord and adjacent towns 
should sustain all the terrifying consequences of return- 
ing the fire of the British, and, for a long time, to let 
this pass through the world for truth.* 

* Col. Barrett testified, at the time, that the fire was returned at 
Concord, and did not consider it " good policy to withhold the truth." 
See his deposition, page 25. 



43 

We shall now bring forward a number of testimo- 
nies, which tend, directly or indirectly, to prove our 
assertions and support our claims on the subject under 
consideration. 

The Rev. and venerable Joseph Thaxter, chaplain 
• at the late Bunker Hill celebration, in a letter to the 
Hon. John Keyes of Concord, dated Edgartown, Feb. 
24, 1825, after giving an account of the battle, at the 
north bridge in Concord, says, " As to fighting at Lex- 
ington, when the British marched up, I never heard or 
knew of any, until of late. I always understood that, 
on the alarm, a few had collected on the north side of 
the meeting-house. When the British came up and 
fired on them, killed several, and the rest fled. It was 
said at the time, that they did not return the fire. Much 
pains was taken by the British to prove that the Amer- 
icans fired first. But it was, I believe, fully proved, 
that they did not fire a gun. At Concord Bridge the 
first spark was struck. It kindled a flame that never 
was extinguished, till the surrender of Cornwallis at 
Yorktown, which completed the glory of the United 
States. The present generation little know what we 
went through to estabhsh our Independence. As to a 
monument at Concord Bridge, I feel deeply interested. 
Posterity ought to know the spot where tlie first British 
blood was spilt."* 

In the sentiments of this gentleman, we learn the 
opinion and full belief of, perhaps, nine tenths of his 
cotemporaries, who had any knowledge of the transac- 
tions and events of the 19th of April. 

* In all quotations we shall endeavour to follow the punctuation, 
italics, capitals, &c, of the originals. — Editor. 



4i 

We take this opportunity to notice and obviate an 
objection that has been made to an expression in the 
Circular of the Committee of the Bunker Hill Asso- 
ciation. They say that the Jirst blood was shed at 
Concord. Undoubtedly they meant British blood, 
which Mr. Thaxter expressly mentions. To under- 
stand them in this sense is rational and candid. Every 
body knew that Jlmencan blood was shed at Lexing- 
ton, early in the morning of the day on which, a few 
hours after, British blood was shed at Concord. With 
this construction, the expression of the Committee is 
perfectly proper and correct. 

The Rev. Joseph Estabrook of Athol, a native of 
Lexington, in a letter to the minister of Concord, under 
date of March 29th, 1826, writes as follows,— " After 
more than half a century, to the best of my recollection, 
I would inform you and others, that I stood in the ranks, 
on the parade, till Capt. Parker ordered us to disperse, 
and till the British came nigh to us, and began to fire 
upon us, when I left the ranks. At that time all was 
confusion and distress. I did not see any one of 
the Lexington company fire upon the British, nor 
was there any order for it, that 1 recollect, from our 
Captain. But from the statement of the Committee 
and the testimony of some worthy individuals, I be- 
lieve, a few guns did return the fire on the British 
troops, before they left the parade, where the com- 
pany was placed, on that never to be forgotten morn- 
ing." Here it is evident, the Rev. gentleman rests 
his belief of the firing of the militia tvholly on the 
statements and testimonies of other persons, and those 
lately made, which we believe are not just. He 



45 

neither saw nor heard of any firing on the British 
that morning by any of the company of which he 
was one, nor any orders for it. But he did hear his 
captain order the company to disperse, and did see 
the British fire upon them. Gentlemen who were 
at College with him, and often heard him tell the 
story, are ready to testify that he never gave them 
the idea of returning the British fire. 

In the narrative of the Rev. Mr. Clark, which 
accompanies his anniversary sermon, April 19, 1776, 
we find nothing that militates with our position, except 
his opinion of the opening of the war between Great 
Britain and America, and one paragraph concerning 
the firing of the militia. He considers the violent and 
murderous assault of the British troops on the militia 
at Lexington, as " the commencement of hostilities 
and the opening of the war." Taking into view the 
events of the day, as he sometimes does, and especial- 
ly those at Concord, there is evidently truth and pro- 
priety in his opinion. But in limiting his ideas to 
the massacre at Lexington, we think he is far from 
being correct. Some persons may suppose that the 
horrid massacre at Boston, on the 5th of March, 1770, 
was the commencement of hostilities and the opening 
of the war. Certainly that wound was never healed, 
and that event very much accelerated the war. Be- 
sides, there seems to be some difficulty in forming an 
idea of hostility and battle, when one party only as- 
saults ; it seems like one fighting alone. A violent at- 
tack, however, may be an important step in bringing on 
mutual conflict. And this was really the case. The mas- 
sacre at Lexington, was followed, in a few hours, by a 



^ 



46 

bloody battle at Concord. But had no outrage been 
committed at Lexington, the British could not have 
accomplished their object at Concord without meeting 
resistance and fighting. This is proved by the facts, 
that resistance unto blood was actually made, and the 
armed men who made it had not then heard of the mur- 
der and bloodshed at Lexington. 

The paragraph in the narrative of the Rev. Mr. 
Clark, to which we have referred, is in the following 
words 5 "In short, so far from firing first upon the 
king's troops, upon the most careful inquiry, it appears, 
that but very few of our people fired at all; and 
even they did not fire, till after being fired upon by the 
troops, they were wounded themselves, or saw others 
killed or wounded by them, and looked upon it as next 
to impossible for them to escape." If we understand 
the Rev. gentleman, he means to give this idea, that 
some very few of the wounded of the militia, who 
despaired of escape with life, did fire. But which way 
they fired, and at what, and how long after the fire of 
the assailants, or whether the British had any know- 
ledge of their firing, all is left wholly in the dark. — 
These unhappy suflferers were in a state of high excite- 
ment and anguish : " at that time all was confusion 
and distress;" audit is not probable they discharged 
their guns, if they did fire, in a manner to irritate or 
annoy the British. We will not inquire how Mr. 
Clark, who was not on the spot, should know things, 
of which Mr. Estabrook, who was one of the militia 
company, had no knowledge. From this paragraph, 
however, we believe, has chiefly grown the important 
claim of returning the fire of the British, to the exclu- 
sion of what was done at Concord bridge. 



47 

The Rev. Mr. Clark goes on to say, '^ one circum- 
stance more before the brigade quitted Lexington, I 
beg leave to mention, as what may give a farther 
specimen of the spirit and chai^acter of the officers 
and men of this body of troops. After the militia com- 
pany were dispersed and the firing ceased, the troops 
drew up and formed in a body on the common, Jii^ed a 
volley and gave three huzzas by way of triumph, 
and as expressive of the joy of victory and the glory 
of CONQUEST ! ! Of this transaction I was a witness, 
having, at that time, a fair view of their motions, 
and being at the distance of not more than 70 or 80 
rods from them." Our author continues — "whether 
this step was honorary to the detachment, or agree- 
able to the rules of war — or how far it was expressive 
of bravery, heroism, and true military glory, for 
800 disciphned troops of Great Britain, without no- 
tice or provocation, to fall upon 60 or 70 undisciplin- 
ed Americans, who neither opposed nor molested them, 
and murder some and disperse the rest, and then to 
give the shout and make the triumph of victory, is 
not for me to determine, but must be submitted to 
the impartial world to judge. Having thus vanquish- 
ed the party at Lexington, the troops marched on 
for Concord," &c. A person reading such express- 
ions and being unacquainted with the facts, might 
be induced to believe that there was at Lexington, 
that morning, a formal pitched battle. And yet some 
of his own words, the whole current of testimony and 
the substance of the narrative, give very different 
ideas. In Mr. Clark's sermon in '76, on the occa- 
sion he thus expresses himself 5 — " How shall I speak, 



48 

or how describe the distress and horror of that aivful 
morn^ that gloomy day ! Yonder field can witness 
the innocent blood of our brethren slain ! And 
from thence does their blood cry unto God for ven- 
gence from the ground!" In his note on Jield^ he 
says, "the field, not of battle, but o{ murder and blood-- 
shedy where our men were fired upon by the troops." 
From this sentence, no one would ever think of a 
battle, or firing on both sides, but only of a cruel and 
horrid massacre. We will not undertake to reconcile 
expressions apparently so contradictory. 

The monument in Lexington, erected " under the 
patronage and at the expense of the government of 
Massachusetts," expressly to commemorate the scenes 
and the sufferers of the morning of the 19th of April, 
'75, contains not a ivord of the returning of the fire 
of the British troops. Had it been a truth, and 
then believed, how ■ could it have been omitted ! 
Nothing could have been recorded more to the honor 
of the deceased in respect to their patriotism and 
courage. This monument is without date, for what 
reason we are unable to say. But so much is evident, 
it had not then been discovered, that the fire of the 
British was first returned at Lexington. 

In confirmation of our statement and claim, we 
adduce farther the Inscription on the brass cannon 
given by the Legislature to the Artillery company 
of Concord. " The Legislature of Massachusetts 
consecrate the names of Major John Buttrick and 
Captain Isaac Davis, whose valor and example 
excited their fellow-citizens to a successful resistance 
of a superior number of British troops at Concord 



49 

Bridge on the 19th of April, 1775, which was the 
beginning of a contest in arms, that ended in Amer- 
ican Independence." This inscription, it is beheved 
on good evidence, was written by a distinguished pa- 
triot of that period, and approved by the Legislature. 
Will any one pretend there was a design to misrepre- 
sent facts ? 

The inscription on the grave-stone of Col. John 
Buttrick is also to our purpose. That part of it 
w^hich was written by the late governor Sullivan 
is thus; — "In memory of Col. John Buttrick, 
who commanded the militia companies who made the 
Jirst attack upon the British troops at Concord 
JVorth Bridge, on the 19th of April, 1775. 
Having with patriotic firmness shared in the dangers 
which led to the American Independence, he lived 
to enjoy the blessings of it, and died May 16th, 
1791, aged 60 years." What could have induced 
governor Sullivan to propose and prepare such an in- 
scription, if he did not then fully believe that the Jirst 
return of the British fire was at Concord Bridge ? 
There appears to have been but one opinion on the 
subject for almost half a century ; except those above 
recognized, which were chiefly foreign, and for the 
existence of which we have accounted. 

As late as 1818, Worcester's United States Gaz- 
etteer, under Concord, Mass. has these words ; — 
"In this tovm (Concord) the Provincial Congress 
met in 1774; and here was made the j^r^^ resistance 
to the British, on the 19th of April, 1775." 

Nathan Brooks, Esq. of Concord, affirms that, in 
years past, he has repeatedly heard Col. William 
7 



50 

Muiiroe, of Lexington, relate the transactions of the 
19th of April, '75, in that town 5 and that he never 
gave him the idea of resistance and firing by the 
militia. Had the colonel known at the time that 
they did return the British fire, how is it possible that 
it should have gone entirely from his mind for more 
than forty-eight years, and then come to him clear 
and plain, that some of the militia did return the fire 
of the British troops ? 

The Hon. Samuel Hoar, of Lincoln, who has lived 
near Lexington all his days, and was at the fight in 
Concord, has often said that he never heard of any 
firing on the British, at Lexington, on the morning 
of the 19th of April, '75, until within two or three 
years. How could a man of his opportunities, informa- 
tion, and character have been kept in ignorance so 
long, had it been a fact that the British fire was re- 
turned by the militia of Lexington, as is now pretended! 

The present aged clergyman of Concord was, at 
that time, a member of the University at Cambridge, 
and was at Concord, while the College was there, 
and has had the charge of that people since Nov. 1778, 
and often heard related the interesting events, at Con- 
cord and Lexington, by persons who were actors and 
witnesses of them ; and he affirms " that he never 
heard of the returning of the British fire at Lexing- 
ton, or the firing of any guns by the militia, when 
the British troops came up in the morning, until of 
late ; but he always understood that the first return 
of the British fire was at Concord north bridge." 
And this is the light in which the late secretary Brad- 
ford views the subject in his history of Massashu- 



51 

setts, who, doubtless, obtained his information from 
records and documents in his office. 

The affidavits of a number of respectable gentlemen 
are as follows, viz. 

" I, John Richardson, of Newton, in the county of Middlesex and 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of lawful age, do testify and say, 
that I was at Lexington on the 19th of April, 1775; that no mention 
was then made, in my hearing, of the Americans having fired upon the 
British, on the morning of that day, at Lexington ; — that I have been 
personally acquainted with the people of Lexington from that day to 
the present time ; — that the events of the morning of that day at Lex- 
ington were the constant topic of conversation for a long time after ; — 
that I frequently heard individuals who were of Capt. Parker's compa- 
ny relate the events of that morning, and never heard that Capt. Par- 
ker's company, or any individual in it, fired upon the British on the 
morning of that day, until the visit of General Lafayette to this coun- 
try in 1825, with the exception of one gun, which was said to have 
been fired by Solomon Brown, while standing in the back kitchen of 
the tavern, then owned by Buckman, now Meriam, as the British were 
passing on towards Concord. JOHN RICHARDSON." 

Middlesex ss. June25th, 1827. Then personally appeared the above 
named John Richardson and made oath that the above affidavit by him 
subscribed is true. 

Before me, NATHAN BROOKS, Justice of the Peace. 

" I, Samuel Hartwell, of Lincoln, in the county of Middlesex and 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of lawful age, do testify and say, that 
I have been acquainted with the inhabitants of Lexington, and partic- 
ularly with many who were of Capt. Parker's company on the 19th of 
April, 1775, to the present time, and for many years from said time 
had frequent conversations with people of Lexington concerning the 
events of the morning of that day at Lexington, and do not recollect 
that any of the people of Lexington ever stated or pretended, that there 
was any firing by Capt. Parker's company on the British, on the morn- 
ing of that day, until within a few years since, except the firing of one 
gun, after the British had turned and were passing off the common. 

SAMUEL HARTWELL." 

Middlesex ss. July 19th, 1827. Then the abovenamed Samuel 
Hartwell personally appeared and made oath, that the above affidavit 
by him subscribed is true. 

Before me, NATHAN BROOKS, Justice of the Peace 



52 

" I, Robert Douglass, of Portland, in the county of Cumberland 
in the State of Maine, aged sixty eight years, — do testify and say, that 
on the morning of the 19th of April, 1775, I was at my father's house 
in Woburn, in the county of Middlesex and colony of Masacbusetts 
Bay. On that morning, about one hour before day-break, a man rode 
up to my father's door, knocked loudly, and said " there is an alarm, 
— the British are coming out, and if there is any soldier in the house, 
he must turn out and repair to Lexington as soon as possible." Who 
that man was I never knew. I immediately arose, took my gun and 
equipments, and started for Lexington. In going by Deacon Obediah 
Kendall's house, (about half a mile from my father's) I saw a light* 
and went into the house ; I there found a Mr. Sylvanus Wood nearly 
ready to go ; we then went to Lexington together, where we arrived 
about half an hour before sun rise ; we went into Buckman's tavern 
and inquired the news about the alarm. Some said the British were 
coming, others said they were not coming. In about fifteen minutes 
after we entered the tavern, a person came to the door, and said the 
British were within half a mile. I then heard an oflScer (who I af- 
terwards learned was Capt. Parker) call his drummer and order him 
to beat to arms. I paraded with the Lexington company between the 
meeting house and the tavern, and then marched to the common, near 
the road that leads to Bedford, there we were ordered to load our guns. 
Some of the company observed, " there are so few of us, it would be 
folly to stand here." Capt. Parker replied, " the first man who offers 
to run shall be shot down." The British soon came in sight, with a 
field officer in front, having his sword drawn ; — the British troops then 
gave three cheers and ran towards us. The Lexington company be- 
gan to break off on the left wing, and soon all dispersed. I think no 
American was killed or wounded by the first fire of the British, unless 
Capt. Parker might have been. No one of Capt. Parker's company 
fired on the British, to my knowledge, that morning, and I think I 
should have known it, had they fired. I knew but two men of Lex- 
ington company, and I never heard any person say that the Americans 
fired on the British that morning at Lexington. 

After the British marched toward Concord, I saw eight men who 
had been killed, among whom were Capt. Parker* and a Mr. Porter 
of Woburn. ROBERT DOUGLASS." 

Cumberland ss. May 3d, 1S27. Then the above named Robert 
Douglass personally appeared, and subscribed and made oath to the 
truth of the above written affidavit. 

Before me, JOSIAH PIERCE, Jr. Justice of the Peace. 

* It is presumed the witness meant Jonas Parker, as the Captain 
was not killed. 



53 

Mr. Douglass was a major in the regiment to which Woburn belong- 
ed in 1791, and is now a respectable and intelligent citizen of Portland. 

" I, Sylvanus Wood, of Woburn, in the county of Middlesex, and 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy-four years, do testify 
and say, that on the morning of the 19th of April, 1775, I was an in- 
habitant oi Woburn, living with Deacon Obediah Kendall ; that about 
an hour before the break of day on said morning, I heard the Lexing- 
ton bell ring, and fearing there was difficulty there, I immediately arose, 
took my gun, and with Robert Douglass went in haste to Lexington, 
which was about three miles distant. When I arrived there, I inqui- 
red of Capt. Parker, the commander of (he Lexington company, what 
was ihe news. Parker told me he did not know what to believe, for a 
man had come up about half an hour before, and informed him that the 
British troops were not on the road. But while we were talking, a 
messenger came up and told the Captain that the British troops were 
within half a mile. Parker immediately turned to his drummer, Wil- 
liam Diman, and ordered him to beat to arms, — which was done. Capt. 
Parker then asked me if I would parade with his company. I told him 
I would. Parker then asked me if the young man with me would pa- 
rade. I spoke to Douglass, and he said he would follow the captain 
and me. By this time many of the company had gathered around the 
captain at the hearing of the drum, where we stood, which was about 
half way^between the meeting-house and Buckman's tavern. Parker 
says to his men, ' every man of you, who is equipped, follow me — and 
those of you, who are not equipped, go into the meeting-house, and 
furnish yourselves from the magazine, and immediately join the com- 
pany.' Parker led those of us who were equipped to the north end of 
Lexington Common, near the Bedford road, and formed us in single 
file. I was stationed about in the centre of the company. While we 
were standing, I left my place, and went from one end of the company 
to the other, and counted every man who was paraded, and the whole 
number was thirty-eight and no more.* Just as I had finished and got 
back to my place, I perceived the British troops had arrived on the 
spot, between the meeting-house and Buckman's, near where Capt. 
Parker stood when he first led oflf his men. The British troops imme- 
diately wheeled so as to cut off those, who had gone into the meeting- 
house. The British troops approached us rapidly in platoons, with a 
General officer on horse-back at their head. The officer came up to 

* This does not include those who went into the meeting-house and 
were "cut oif." 



51 

within about Ivvo rods ol' the centre of the company, where 1 stood.- - 
The first phitoon being about three rods distant. They there lialted. 
'J'he officer then swung his sword, and said, " Lay down your arms 
you damn'd rebels, or you are all dead men— fire." Some guns were 
fired by the British at us from the first platoon, but no person was kil- 
led or hurt, being probably charged only with powder. Just at this 
lime, Capt. Parker ordered every man to take care of himself. The 
company immediately dispersed ; and while the company was dispers- 
ing and leaping over the wall, the second platoon of the British fired, 
and killed some of our men. There was not a gun fired by any ol 
Capt. Parker's company within my knowledge. I was so situated that 
1 must have known it, had any thing of the kind taken place, before a 
total dispersion of our company. I have been intimately acquainted 
with the inhabitants of Lexington, and particularly with those of Capt. 
Parker's company, and with one exception, I have never heard any of 
them say or pretend that there was any firing at the British from Par- 
ker's company, or any individual in it, until within a year or two. — 
One member of the company told me, many years since, that after 
Parker's company had dispersed, and he was at some distance, he gave 
them " the guts of his gun." 

" After the British had begun their march to Concord, I returned 
to the common, and found Robert Roe and Jonas Parker lying dead at 
the north corner of the common, near the Bedford road, and others 
dead and wounded. I assisted in carrying the dead into the meeting- 
house. I then proceeded towaids Concord with my gun, and when I 
came near the tavern in Lexington, now kept by Mr. Viles, I saw a 
British soldier seated on the bank by the road. I went to him with my 
gun in readiness to fire, if he should offer to resist. I took his gun, 
cutlass, and equipments from him. I then proceeded with him towards 
Lexington — and meeting a Mr. Welch and another person, I delivered 
the prisoner to them. 

" After Welch arrived in Lexington with the prisoner, I understood 
that another prisoner was taken by Mr. John Flagg, and that they 
were conducted to Burlington, and put under the care of Capt. James 
Reed. I believe that the soldier who surrendered his gun to me was 
the first prisoner taken by the Americans on that day. 

SYLVANUS WOOD." 

Middlesex, ss. June Ytth, 1826. Then the above named Sylvanus 
Wood personally appeared, and subscribed and made oath to the fore- 
going affidavit. 

Before me, NATHAN BROOKS, Justice of the Peace. 



55 

The taking of British prisoners has been mentioned 
by some as evidence of a battle at Lexington in the 
morning. We firmly beheve that not one was captu- 
red, that morning, when fighting or making any resis- 
tance. All who were taken at Lexington, in the 
morning, were willing captives. They designedly sep- 
arated themselves from their companions, in order to 
be taken. They preferred this method to desertion, 
which would be attended with danger. One of the 
prisoners, who lived and died in Concord, informed one 
of us, that he got away from the British, that day, in 
such a manner. 

We come now to the affidavits and depositions of 
a large number of men before the Provincial Con- 
gress, then sittmg in Watertown, relative to the events 
and circumstances of the morning of the 19th of April, 
'75. These depositions were all given under oath. 

We first adduce Capt. Parker's testimony, the 
whole of it, which is very concise. Of the other testi- 
monies we shall cite only such parts as affect the ques- 
tion at issue. 

" I, John Parker, of lawful age, and Commander of the Militia in 
Lexington, do testify and declare, that on the 19lh instant, in the Morn- 
ing, about One of the Clock, being informed that there were a number 
ot Regular Officers riding up and down the Road, stopping and insult- 
ing the People as they passed the Road ; and also was informed, that 
a Number of Regular Troops were on their March fro?n Boston, in or- 
der to take the Province Stores at Concord ; ordered our Militia to 
meet on the Common in said Lexington, to consult what to do, and 
concluded not to be discovered, nor meddle or make with said Regular 
Troops (if they should approach) unless they should insult or molest 
us, and upon their sudden approach, I immediately ordered our Militia 
to disperse and not to fire ; immediately said troops made their ap- 
pearance and rushed furiously, fired upon and killed Eight of our party, 
without receiving any Provocation therdbr from us." 
Lexington, April 25, 1775. 



56 

Elijah Saunderson testifies, "That after ordftrs were given to 
fire by the British officers, immediately the Regulars shouted aloud, 
ran and fired on the Lexington company, which did not fire a Gun be- 
fore the Regulars discharged on them. Eight of the Lexington com- 
pany were killed, while they were dispersing, and at a considerable 
distance from each other, and many wounded, — and although a Spec- 
tator, I narrowly escaped with my life." 

Lexington, April 25, 1775. 

Thomas Price WiLLARD testifies, "that the Regulars ran till 
they came within about eight or nine rods of about an Hundred of the 
Militia of said Lexington, who were collected on said Common, at 
which Time the Militia of said Lexington dispersed, then the Officers 
made a Huzza, and the private Soldiers succeeded them : Directly af- 
ter this an Officer rode before the Regulars to the other Side of the 
body and hallooed after the Militia of said Lexington, and said, ' lay 
down your Arms, damn you, why don't you lay down your Arms :' — 
And that there was not a Gun fired till the Militia of said Lexington 
were dispersed ; and further saith not." 

Lexington, April 23, 1775. 

" We Levi Mead and Levi Harrington, both of Lexington, in 
the county of Middlesex, and colony of Massachusetts Bay in New 
England, and of lawful age, do testify and declare, that on the 19th of 
April, being on Lexington common as spectators, we saw a large body 
of regular troops marching up towards the Lexington company; and 
some of the regulars on horses, whom we took to be officers, fired a pis- 
tol or two on the Lexington company which loere then dispersing. 
These were the first guns that were fired, and they were immediately 
followed by several vollies from the regulars, by which eight of our 
men, belonging to said company were killed, and several wounded. 

Sworn to by < LEVI MEAD. 

I LEVI HARRINGTON." 
Lexington, April 23, 1775. 

Nathaniel Mulliken and thirly-three others. — " We further tes- 
tify and declare, that about 5 o'clock in the morning, hearing our drum 
beat, we proceeded towards the Parade, and soon found that a large 
body of troops were marching towards us, some of our company com- 
ing up to the Parade, and others had reached it ; at which Time the 
company began to disperse, whilst our Backs were turned on the 
Troops, we were fired on by them, and a number of our Men were 
instantly killed and wounded — not a Gun was fired by any Person in 
our company on the Regulars, to our knowledge, before they fired on 
us, and they continued firing until we had all made made our escape." 

Lexington, April, 1775. 



57 

The next deposition is by fourteen persons, and as follows ; — " We 
further testify and say, that about 5 o'clock in the morning we attend- 
ed the beat of our drum, and were formed on the Parade — we were 
faced towards the regulars, then marching up towards us, and some of 
our company were coming to the Parade with their backs towards the 
troops ; and others on the parade began to disperse, when the regulars 
fired on the company, before a gun was fired by any of our company, 
on them ; they killed eight of our company, and wounded several, and 
continued their fire until we had all made our escape." 
Lexington, April 25, 1775. 

Timothy Smith, at the same date, testifies ; — " I saw a large body 
of troops marching up towards the Lexington company tlien dispersing, 
and likewise saw the regular troops fire on the Lexington company 
before the latter fired a gun ; I immediately ran, and a volley was dis- 
charged at me, and put me in imminent danger of losing my life. I soon 
returned to the common, and saw eight of the men who were killed, 
and lay bleeding at a considerable distance from each other, and sev- 
eral wounded ; and further saith not." 

The following deposition is from a British soldier 
taken like those before mentioned. 

" I, John Bateman , belonging to the fifty-second regiment, com- 
manded by Col. Jones, on Wednesday morning, on the 19th of April, 
was in the party marching for Concord, being at Lexington, in the 
county of Middlesex, being nigh the meeting-house in said Lexington, 
there was a small party of men gathered together in that place, when 
our said troops marched by ; and I testify and declare that I heard the 
word of command given to fire, and some of the said troops did fire, 
and I saw one of the said party lie dead on the ground nigh the said 
meeting-house ; and I testify that I never heard any of the inhabitants 
so much as fire a gun on said troops. 

(Signed) JOHN BATEMAN." 

In reference to this and the preceding witnesses of 
Lexington, it appears to us very reasonable, to inquire 
why they did not '^ say further ^^^ if truth required or 
permitted it ? Why not say, we saw and heard seve- 
ral guns fired on the British after they had fired on us?* 

* See Col. Barrett's deposition before referred to for a different man- 
ner of testifying. 

8 



58 

If this were then a known fact, we know not how they 
could consistently stop at saying they did not fire on the 
British Jir'st. If any other persons, not of the militia 
company returned the fire of the British troops, these 
witnesses, it seems to us, must have known it. There 
was no danger in testifying that they fired after the 
British had fired upon them, and killed a number. 
It would have been considered brave and patriotic, 
and they would have been applauded and honored, 
though it might have been thought rash in so small 
a company. JS'oiv the inhabitants of Lexington, and 
many of the witnesses living, are of this opinion, and 
appear to think highly of returning the fire of the 
British troops, on the morning of the 19th of April, 
'75 5 and they have endeavored to represent this to the 
world as a fact. We have a right to presume that the 
witnesses could not in truth swear to it at that time. 
How they have acquired additional evidence, in a long 
course of years, is not for us to say. 

We shall close our evidence in support of our 
claim by an extract from the address of the Provincial 
Congress to the inhabitants of Great Britain, ground- 
ed on the above testimonies. 

" Wateriown, April 26, 1775. By the clearest Depositions rela- 
tive to this Transaction it will appear, that on the Night preceding the 
19th of April instant, a Body of the King's Troops, under command 
of Col. Smith, were secretly landed at Cambridge, with an apparent 
Design to take or destroy the Military and other Stores provided for 
the Defence of the Colony, and deposited at Concord— that some In- 
habitants of the Colony, on the Night aforesaid, whilst travelling peace- 
ably on the Road between Boston and Concord, were seized and great- 
ly abused by armed Men, who appeared to be Officers of General 
Gage's Army— that the town of Lexington by these means was alarm- 
ed, and a company of the Inhabitants mustered on the Occasion— that 



59 

the regular Troops on their way to Concord marched into said Town 
of Lexington, and the said company, on their approach, began to dis- 
perse — that notwithstanding this the Regulars rushed on with great Vi- 
olence, and first began Hostilities by firing on said Lexington compa- 
ny, whereby they killed Eight and wounded several others — that the 
Regulars continued their fire until those of said company, who were 
neither killed nor wounded, had made their escape — that Col. Smith 
with the detachment, then marched to Concord, where a number of 
Provincials were again fired on by the Troops, two of them killed and 
several wounded, before the Provincials fired on them — and that these 
hostile measures of the Troops produced an Engagement that lasted 
through the Day ; — in which many of the Provincials and more of the 
regular Troops were killed and wounded." 

It is evident from this address, that the Provincial 
Congress did not consider the war commenced, or 
that any battle or engagement had taken place, until 
the fire of the British troops was returned at Concord. 
And from all the testimony it seems certain, that if 
there was a battle at Lexington on the 19th of April, 
1775, Col. Monroe, the only surviving officer of the 
company engaged in it. Rev. Joseph Estabrook, 
Maj. Robert Douglass, Mr. Sylvanus Wood, and 
others of the company, were wholly ignorant of it, until 
more than forty years afterwards, they were informed 
of it by others. 

From the preceding extract, depositions, and testi- 
monies, we are convinced that Capt. Parker ordered 
his company to disperse, on the near approach of the 
British troops, that they might not be in a situation 
exposed and provoking to the British ; — that though 
they did not obey promptly and expeditiously, as was 
their duty, they ivere actually disjjersing, when the 
British troops first fired upon them 5 — and that then 
those who were able made their escape as quickly as 
possible. It appears to us highly probable, that, had the 



60 

order of Capt. Parker been instantly obeyed, there 
would have been no blood shed at that time and place. 
We leave it to the public to trace and mark the 
discrepancies in the testimonies given in 1775, and 
those given in 1824 and 5. We will retain a chari- 
table opinion of the integrity of the witnesses at both 
periods. But we are full in the opinion that there is 
error somewhere. There are inconsistencies, if not 
contradictions, which we cannot reconcile. We still 
firmly believe, as the conclusion from the whole, and 
what seems to us too plain to be seriously denied, 
that in truth and all propriety of language, the militia 
company of Lexington did not return the fire of 
the British troops, on the morning of the 19th of 
April, 1775, and that the military companies at Con- 
cord, commanded by Col. James Barrett, and led on 
by Maj. John Buttrick, did immediately return the 
fire of the British .troops, that day, at the North 
Bridge.* This conclusion appears to us just and fair ; 
and this is the result at which we have aimed. It 
will not be henceforth denied, we trust, that at that 
time and place the first British blood was shed at the 
commencement of the American Revolution. 

* Some years after the 19th of April, '75, the north bridge was mov- 
ed lower down the river, and the road discontinued. There is now 
no open road to the spot where the fight commenced. 



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